This document was retrieved from the Heritage Act e-Register, which is accessible through the website of the Ontario Heritage Trust at www.heritagetrust.on.ca.

Ce document est tiré du registre électronique. tenu aux fins de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario, accessible à partir du site Web de la Fiducie du patrimoine ontarien sur www.heritagetrust.on.ca. 'ONJ'ARIO HERIH GE TRU~ THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF WINDSOR JUL 1 1 .6 IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT ..ilEcF.l"'VI:: AND IN THE MATTER OF THE LANDS AND PREMISES KNOWN AS ,..D 811 DEVONSHIRE IN THE CITY OF WINDSOR IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE

REGISTERED MAIL

ONTARIO HERITAGE TRUST 10 ADELAIDE STREET EAST TORONTO, ONTARIO MSC 1J3

TAKE NOTICE THAT the Council of the Corporation of the City of Windsor intends to designate the property, including lands and buildings known as 811 Devonshire as a property of architectural and/or historical value or interest under Part IV of The Ontario Heritage Act:

Statement of Significance/Reasons for Designation (811 Devonshire)

Description of Historic Place

The Ambery-lsaacs House - "Foxley", 811 Devonshire Road , was constructed in 1907 as part of the Garden City second phase of the Town of Walkerville developments, at the southwest corner of Devonshire Road and Cataraqui Street. The property, consisting of a two-and-one-half storey detached dwelling, one-storey garage as well as landscaped grounds, designed in Arts & Craft and Tudor Revival style, are representative of one of the architecturally finest properties constructed in the former Town of Walkerville. "Foxley" was designed by internationally renowned and locally significant architect , and was the residence of Charles. C. Ambery and then William H. Isaacs, who were both top executives in the Walker family businesses. It is a residential landmark in the Walkerville area.

Cultural Heritage Value or Interest

Design or Physical Value:

The Ambery-lsaacs House - "Foxley" is a two-and-one-half-storey house designed in the Tudor Revival and Arts and Craft architectural styles by architect Albert Kahn and constructed in 1907. The building has an asymmetrical massing with projecting volumes and wall setbacks. It has steeply-pitched multiple cross-gabled roofs with a slight flare at the base. It is constructed of red brick on the ground floor and with stucco and decorative half-timbering on upper floors using cypress wood . Numerous double-hung multi-pane window sashes in wood casing are on all floors. The front facade is enhanced by a simple but elegant wooden front porch. There are two prominent brick chimneys on the front and south sides of the house. The overall design, together with well-landscaped grounds, was Cilv of Windsor • 350 Citv I !all SquMe West • Windc;or, ON • N9J\ 6Sl 1n\ \\ .cityw ind..,or.ca inspired by the English countryside cottage style and emphasized picturesque handmade architecture in a time when mass factory production became commonplace. The detail and quality of the design and construction makes "Foxley" representative of one of the finest houses in the former Town of Walkerville.

Historical or Associative Value:

The subject property is located in the planned community of Walkerville, which was originally owned almost entirely by Hiram Walker, his family and his companies. The property is part of the second phase of development in the former Town of Walkerville, when the Walker brothers planned for a portion of the town to be designed in the Garden City concept. "Foxley" was one of the executive houses for high ranking managers in the Town of Walkerville and reflects the high quality of life provided by the Walker family companies to their employees. Albert Kahn was commissioned to design the property for the secretary of Hiram Walker & Sons Company, Charles C. Ambery. While the ownership of the property was the Walkerville Land and Building Company, Ambery and his family took residence at Foxley in 1907 until his death in 1915. Subsequently, the company arranged for the successive secretary of the company William H. Isaacs to live there and deeded the land to him and his wife Elizabeth Mary Isaacs in 1920. Isaacs eventually became the director of the company, was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the distillery in 1927. He had close relations with the Walker Family and continued to be responsible for their other interests and assets until his death in 1941 .

"Foxley" is a fine work of an internationally recognized architect Albert Kahn, who was a significant architect in the former town of Walkerville and has several works listed on or designated on the Municipal Heritage Register. While he was still employed with the Mason and Rice Architects, Kahn designed the beautiful interior of Hiram Walker & Sons Office Building, which was instrumental in showcasing his talent and elevating his career. He started up his own firm "Kahn and Associates" in 1895, and the Walker family were major patrons of his services. His company was commissioned to design many properties for the Walker family and companies, such as Willistead Manor (1899 Niagara Street), the Harrington Walker Manor (1948 St Mary's Gate), Walkerville Town Hall, and Canadian Bank of Commerce. Kahn was also sought after by other executives for construction of their residences in Walkerville. He preferred to use historical period architectural styles for residential, institutional and commercial properties, and in particular designed many of the residential properties in Walkerville using elements of the Arts and Craft architectural style. Kahn is best remembered for being the most influential architect in designing industrial buildings for automotive industries in both Canada and the United States, that were utilitarian and brightly illuminated. Although Kahn was never formally educated in architecture, he was able to create buildings in elaborate designs and details. The Ford Powerhouse building in the former town of Ford City is one of his works. Throughout his career, he is credited with over 1000 buildings, including a variety of industrial, office and commercial buildings, and public buildings etc. Some of his most celebrated works in the United States are the Fisher Building, the Conservatory on Belle Isle, the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, and the Athletic Club.

Contextual Value:

The large lot size and generous setback of Foxley and surrounding dwellings were part of the Garden City concept that the Walker Brothers had envisioned in the second phase of 2 the Town of Walkerville's development. The large lot size of Foxley and other dwellings nearby were intentionally enlarged through a re-subdivision in 1903 to support the prestigious real estate surrounding St Mary's Anglican Church. The abundant greenery of large lots like Foxley served as a gateway at the beginning of Cataraqui Street to the core pride of the town which included St. Mary's and Willistead Manor further to the south. The buildings around the church, including Foxley, could be considered as one of the premier locations in the town since they were reserved for Hiram Walker's grandchildren (Harrington E Walker House on the same block as Foxley, and the Hiram H. Walker House (since demolished) were located opposite to Foxley). These series of houses were all designed by Albert Kahn and represent a collection of the finest homes in the former Town of Walkerville.

The subject property is located on a visible corner on the southwest of Devonshire Road and Cataraqui Street. Before the house to its south at 1978 St. Mary's Gate (northwest corner of Devonshire Road and St Mary's Gate) was built, Foxley enjoyed unhindered views to St. Mary's Anglican Church. Foxley is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable landmark buildings in the former Town of Walkerville.

Character Defining Elements:

Exterior features that contribute to the design or physical value of the Ambery­ lsaacs House - "Foxley":

• Built c.1907 • Two-and-one-half storey building primarily constructed of red brick, half-timbering and infill stucco • Tudor Revival and Arts and Craft Style elements, including: Front (East) Side o Large steeply-pitched cross gable roof on south end with slightly flared base, deep eave overhang and half-timbered verge board o prominent boxed/rectangular red brick chimney with decorative corbel and stone cap and two decorative chimney pots o Stucco infill with decorative cypress wood half-timbering on the attic floor and second floor: attic floor with vertical half-timbering and second floor with varied timbering patterns o Long narrow double hung four over four sash window in wood casing under the front main gable on attic floor o Two steeply-pitched slightly flared gabled dormers with wood shingle cladding and decorative rafters on the front east elevation and half-timbered verge board o Pair of double-hung six over six window sash in wood casing in each front dormer on attic floor o Wood beam belt beneath each floor o Decorative sculptured bracket fixture with happy and sad emotions beneath the attic floor o Oriel window on the south end second floor with four narrow double-hung four over one sash window with wood trim o Two pairs of double-hung six over one window sash, with another smaller double­ hung four over one window with wood casing in the center of the second floor o Wood trim belt beneath second floor o Projecting rounded wooden brackets on first floor ledge and porch 3 o Red English bond brick on first floor walls o First floor windows with wooden casing and installed with stone sills o Bay window with four double hung six-over one window sash to the north of the front porch on the first floor o Two pairs of double-hung six over one window sash on north and south sides of the front walls on the first floor o Flat-roofed wooden square bracketed small porch supported by four square wooden pillars with the word "Foxley" carved on the crown o Decorative floral carving on the top corner of the exterior and interior of porch pillars forming curved porch entryway, and wooden ceiling o Curved wood moulding for front door entryway o Wood door with curved top and decorative leaded glass pattern o Squared redbrick pedestal with stone top leading to front porch North Side o Steep gable roof with simple wood rafters and half-timbered verge board o Stucco infill with decorative cypress wood half-timbering on the attic floor and second floor: attic floor with vertical half-timbering and second floor with varied timbering patterns o Triple double hung four over four window on attic floor with wood casing o Slightly sloped gable ledge beneath third floor o Slightly sloped roof beneath attic floor with wide eave overhang and decorative wood brackets o Double-hung six over one window sash on second floor; single window on east end and paired window on west end o Red English bond brick on first floor walls o Boxed bottom-half brick and top-half wood window projection on the east end with five double-hung six over one window sash on first floor with decorative wood cornice o Two small double-hung six over one window centered by one medium double-hung six-over one window sash on the west wall of first floor West Side o Large steeply-pitched cross gable roof on south end with slightly flared base, deep eave overhang and half-timbered verge board o One small double hung four over four window sash with wood casing on the attic floor gable o Low-pitched flat roof longitudinal dormer with wood shingle cladding on attic floor o One small and one medium sized double hung six over one window sashes on the dormer o Decorative wood brackets beneath the attic level o Stucco wall on attic and second floor o Projection of gable roof on north end extending beyond second floor balcony o Balcony of stucco material on north end of second floor o Three varied double hung window sash and one sash door with wood casing on second floor balcony o Three narrow leaded glass window on stair-well level enclosed by thick wood casing o One large six over one window sash and one medium four over one double hung window with wood casing on south end of second floor o Wooden belt trim beneath second floor o Red English bond brick on first floor walls o Wood porch on north end

4 o Red brick projection on north end of wall with double hung six over one window sash with wood casing and stone sill on south side of projection o Curved arch vertical brick above sash door and above small four pane window with wood casing and stone sill at center of south elevation o Oriel window with four double hung six-over one window sash on the south end with stucco at the bottom of the projection South Side o Rectangular red brick chimney end with depression in center of pillar, and decorative corbel and stone cap, with three decorative chimney pots o Steep gable roof and dormer on attic floor with half-timbered verge board o Stucco infill with decorative vertical half-timbering on the attic floor and varied half- timbering on the second floor o Triple double hung four over four window on attic floor with wood casing o Decorative wood brackets beneath attic floor o Three double hung windows with wood casing on the second floor o Large wooden balcony on second floor with wood railings o Flat-roofed wooden porch with bottom half red bricked topped with stone and top half with square wood beams on first floor

• Detached double car garage o Gabled roof with wide eave overhang and simple rafter and half-timbered verge board o Squared red brick chimney and stone cap on south east end of roof o Wood brackets on corner of roof slope o Stucco infill with cypress wood decorative vertical half-timbering on the gable o Red brick structure with slanted angled walls at corners o Garage door opening on north end and man door openings on east and south sides

• Other special landscape features: o Low hedge demarcating property boundaries o Low square red brick pedestal stone-topped columns with one at south east corner of property, two flanking front entry path at east side, and two in front of the front porch

Interior features that contribute to the design or physical value of the Ambery-lsaacs House - "Foxley":

• Arts and Craft Style elements o Vestibule with decorative tiled floor o Full length oak wood panelling in vestibule

Features that contribute to the historical or associative value of the Ambery-lsaacs House - "Foxley":

• Part of the second phase of development of the Town of Walkerville, particularly the portion that was re-subdivided to reflect the Garden City concept envisioned by the Walker Brothers • Built as one of the finest homes in the former Town of Walkerville in its early years for top executives of the Hiram Walker & Sons Company

5 • Owned by the Walkerville Land & Building Company, but constructed for the secretary and subsequent director of the Hiram Walker & Sons Company, Charles Clayton Ambery • Second resident was the successive secretary and director of the Hiram Walker & Sons company, William H. Isaacs • Designed by internationally renowned and locally significant architect Albert Kahn

Features that contribute to the contextual value of the Ambery-lsaacs House - " F oxley":

• Located at a visible corner on the southwest of Devonshire Road and Cataraqui Street • Located at the entrance of the "Garden City" developments where the large and generously setback developments were gateways leading to the town's pride St. Mary's Anglican Church • Architecturally rich house evocative of the unique home designs and high valued houses in the prestigious areas of the former Town of Walkerville • One of the most recognizable neighbourhood residential landmarks

Any person may, within thirty days of the publication of this notice, send by registered mail or deliver to the Clerk of the City of Windsor notice of his or her objection to the proposed designation together with a statement of the reasons for the objection and all relevant facts. If such a Notice of Objection is received , the Council of the Corporation of the City of Windsor shall refer the matter to the Conservation Review Board for a hearing.

DATED at Windsor, Ontario this 13th day of July 2016 Anna Ciacelli, Supervisor of Council Services

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